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Saturday, May 30, 2009

This is a diversion from my regular wonderful blogs...I have something else on my mind today gals, but I promise to make this one of few times that we go off course....

I heard him tell me, when I was in the 8th grade, that I am a female and will not be a CEO. I heard him say sorry when we spoke again in high school, after I heard him say he didn't remember saying that. I made him go to class because, face it, he was a super senior and needed to get out! I watched him go to the prom with another girl because she was a senior and didn't have a date. I didn't say anything..I didn't say anything to him ever for 2 years. I sent him pictures when he was away with the Army in Korea. I wore that hat because he said I looked like Mary J. Blige's My Life cover. I held the phone to my chest when he moved and never gave me a new number. I held the phone in my fist when he told me he had a girlfriend. I'm sorry? I'm your girlfriend. I gave him my nameplate because that's what you did when you had a boyfriend. He gave it back one summer while visiting from Atlanta because he was seeing someone else. Again. I listened to him tell me where he was born, what his mom did for a living, who his dad was, where his dad was, his age, his major, his year at Morehouse. They were lies. I held in my real feelings because he may not approve. I decided that was dumb and told my true feelings and he didn't call back. I saw him, liked him and went to him first. He liked that. I waited in the wings for him to seek me out, he liked that more. I didn't go to his house unannounced. I bought sheets for his bed. I hope she found them comfortable. I tasted vienna sausage because he said it was good. Sidebar: no it is not. I used to love to go to Houston's, but he didn't so, we ate wings from the corner. I felt him leave the bed when the Que's came by in the middle of the night. I didn't say anything. I asked him to drop me somewhere and he sent his pledges. On Valentine's Day he gave me candy, delivered by his pledges. I just thought that was part of the life. I was unhappy, but I stayed because we are supposed to go to college, meet a man and marry him. I went away to work and decided, on that day, to be happily ever after. But it wasn't with him. I threw the phone when he told me she was pregnant. I cursed him when he bought her MY ring. The one I described. I watched Love Jones on repeat. I ate dry cereal and kept a bottle of water at my bedside. Because I didn't leave it. Happy?? Not really. I went back. I met him. He was his friend. But we had a connection. He called. He called. He called. He called. He called. He called. I didn't know why, I hadn't made the connection yet. I visited. He kissed me. I went home. He argued with him. He told me it wouldn't work. I still don't know why. He was married. He didn't make the connection. I bought him shirts he might like. I picked out shoes. I made his plate. I cooked his favorite food. I picked up that dish he liked from the restaurant we went to. I baked his favorite cookies. I mixed his favorite drink. I blended smoothies. I ate tuna with no mayo. I ate bread that tasted like cardboard box. I didn't eat pineapple or mango because they had sugar. I didn't drink Orange Juice. I ate fake cheese. I poured fake sugar into my green tea. I took tablespoonfuls of Psyllium husks. I couldn't go outside that day. I drank cranberry juice. Only. I mixed maple syrup, cayenne pepper and lemons. Daily. I took water pills. I bought books to make me not eat. I drank soymilk. I didn't eat pork, beef, lamb. I ate pork, beef, lamb. I ate peppers, even though I hated them, because he said they are good for you. I used Gain because he liked the smell. I grew up on Tide. I bought his daughter a beautiful dress. He gave me a picture, but I have never seen her before in my life. I didn't wear red nail polish because he hated red. I wore red nail polish because he hated pink. I dyed my hair black, he didn't like it. I put hi-lites in my hair, he doesn't like light hair. I wanted to lift them more, but he really hates light hair! He's a legs man so, I did lunges. I hate lunges. He really just liked my face, not my body. In fact, he asked me if I was heavy all my life. Hadn't really thought about it, but I am sure these donuts will not help. He liked my hair out. It's hot, I really wanted to wear a ponytail. He liked my hair half up and half down. He liked my hair curly. He liked my hair bone straight. He liked me in business attire so, I wore suits. He liked to chill out so, I wore sweatsuits.

I watched baseball. At the field, on TV. Baseball bores me

I watched basketball. I haven't known a player's name since MJ.

I listened to his poems. I wanted to watch TV.

I helped him with essays. I wanted to sleep. I go to dance class, he wanted to go to a play. I didn't go to dance class.

I wanted Mr. Chow's. He thought that was "frontin' " so, we ate IHOP.

I wanted him to come watch me dance. He didn't like dance class. But he went to visit her at the beauty salon.

He incessantly freestyled rap songs, I would have preferred having a conversation. He didn't know that. I never said anything. Or did I??

I didn't want to date a man with children. His child stayed with me.

I wore a corset, the stilettos pinched my pinky toe, I wore MAC, it was too heavy, I wore Almay, I wore NARS, I just needed him to see me look perfect. I smelled like Issey, Dolce, L'Artisan, Creed, Kenzo..he liked Jamaican Punch so, I bought that too. I wore short hair, long hair, bangs, an MC Lyte hi-low, feathered like Pebbles, back shaven like Mary's circa Be Happy, and flat twists. He was short, I wore flats and just kept an image of Tom and Nicole in my head. I like the pinky toe pinching high heels. I almost caused internal combustion by holding in farts, I brushed my teeth and hair before he woke up. I fell asleep after him so he wouldn't hear me snore.

I gave him flavor. Variety. Everything he desired. Why didn't he stay?

I think Char said it best, " I've been dating since I was 15!! I'm exhausted!! Where is he?!!???!!

He is there. He may not be there right now so, watch for impostors.

When you settle for less than you deserve, you most certainly will getless than you imagined.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Well, Minx and Manes was a sure fire success!! Good looks K-La!! Alas, a week has passed so, my sexy, gold, fishnet french has fizzled...I am Bee no more....

Back in real life, I am sitting in the midst of polish bottles at my Asian owned, Latina labored nail salon in Midtown. The popular polish brands along with ROY G BIV and all his children are present with me. The one with an "E" has a new line out for the Summer, NEON. It is HOT!! Flirty Fuchsia and Perky Purple look right for the feet. I tried it on my thumb and they dry kinda funny. They are extremely matte. I will find something for the feet, no worries....I need to focus on these hands!! What will I do now that I have had gold fingers?? Well, I can take it down a notch this week and keep it simple sexy with a nice, regular French manicure. There are a multitude of pinks before me, but, like every other aspect of my life (most times to my chagrin) it MUST be perfect!! White-not too white; Pink-not a chalky pink, it has to be juuuustright!! Just call me Manilocks! Girls, rev your engines, we are on the hunt for the Perfect Pink and White Combo!!

This search has been going on for years. I was never ecstatic about a French, well, I was a few months ago but forgot to write the polish names down. (HATE that!) Then there was my stint with Ballerina, a pink by a certain French designer, that was nice. Unfortunately, that bottle is $15 a pop, I broke the jar to get that last corner, and no salons keep them in stock. Well, not the ones that charge $35 for a mani-pedi combo!

Another thing that affects the perfect French is your nail tech's technique. When I was a Southerngal, the techs would create the white tip first and carve out a nice shape with cotton swab, polish remover and a stick. They would then fill in the rest of the nail with the desired pink or taupe. With the right colors, this works well. In the city, I find most techs put on a coat of the desired pink, freehand the white tip and then top off with the 2nd pink coat, covering the white as well. This calls for a sheer pink or a nude color. As a cocoa-caramel gal, neither works for me!! A nude color makes my fingers look more like Reese's sticks instead of a proper mani! I know, I know " Use Sugar Daddy!!",they screamed. Not for me gals, even though it seems to be the mainstay for the darker hued gal in most salons. But it is still not THE pink. ( I told you I'm difficult!)

During this trip, after getting ice grilled by owner Amy for trying on all the polishes, I paired Pinking Up the Pieces and Cloud Nine. The Cloud Nine is fab!! It gives me the pearly white I desire and nixes the insane asylum white they usually try to give you. Pinking is not bad, it may be a bit too heavy over the Cloud. (they use technique #2of course!) This makes for a not-so-French vibe. But, upon further study, I am noticing I may have created a new look....Yes gals, this citygal may have stumbled upon greatness!! The slight pearl under the not-too-sheer pink gives a new look, French, but NOT French....Maybe I'll call it...Ah!...Martinique Manicure! French- inspired-due -to -matters- beyond -our- control BUT African all the way!!

**BTW- tried the NEON Perky Purple, GREAT!! It's on the feet as we speak! It is a MUST for Summer. Suggestion: 3 coats with a good, clear, top coat fixes the matte issue, get those legs lasered and those feet scrubbed and put on your sexiest open-toed shoes! Bright, but live a little! OR since we are in Obama-land and have choices, do the matte. A trusted Citygal consultant says it may look fly with the metallic gladiators that are in for the Summer.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

So, it's Spring, officially. The weather in the city has finally caught up with the calendar. This month marks new beginnings, flowers blooming, tax returns and...my descent from girlie graces because I have no idea what the designer Summer lines behold!!

*Sigh*

It's been a rough few years of city fashion, especially for a thicker-than-most Citygal. You get to a point where it's like, "Screw these pretentious designers and the size 8s they flew in with!!" So, while I swallow elephant portions of H2O and Hoodia, I have willed myself to get my swag back via footwear!

Shoes!! Sweet nectar of the fashion gods! Sexy stilettos to funky flats, I will do you all!! The lifelong lust has finally manifested itself into love after my ability to make an honest accessory of a few coveted clogs. Mario, Gucci, Chanel, Chloe..they show love from my quads down to that damned big ass big toe and I show love through the blanketed warmth of multiple credit card statements.

Those damn credit cards!! Where does a gal go to be loved so....without breaking the bank??

One gal had on a shoe that I thought was okay. "Hey, where'd you get those?" I asked dryly. They might do, I just wasn't convinced..."Payless!" she replied. Ummmmmm....

I have walked coolly past Payless, but never looked too hard to not lead it on. After all, I was in a pretty steamy relationship with Giuseppe Z. But, for an instant I decided to dip out and see if 'Less could give me more. I walked in to rows of the same grandma-chewy-caramel brown and the smell...What??!! This was not love!! This is where sleezgals come to have twisted, sordid affairs with shoes!! As to not cover the cheap dyeables with a vomit color,I bolted. Still no shoes...

But wait...there is that store Downtown, the one Auntie Lisa took me to when I was young. They're still there! And guess what gals?? They sell high end shoes, in addition to bridge and entry designers, and no shoe price exceeds 200 bucks. Blissful! So, I went to see the new lover I had taken down on Reade St.

It's an O.C.D shoegal's dream!! Floors of color coded and sized labels. I went thru each stack and each floor like a British butler with a white glove. I had some oooohs!; cooed some aaahhhhs! but spat too many "Helllll Nahs" for my liking! Whoever was charged with pushing these shoes off the truck into the stock of this heavily discounted haven must be a stylist for Condi Rice! If you like like Delman, Sigerson Morrison, or Franco Sarto fare, you're good this season. If Gucci is your game?? Roll up your sleeves and get ready to dig through this seemingly lackluster Summer material (which is the final inventory until Fall rolls around). The shoes are so plentiful, it feels like you would spend all day trying on. But, I looked up in horror as I made a too-soon approach on the final marker of the mental blueprint I had drawn up to conquer the store. So, like any lover who wants their relationship to work, I went back again to make sure I hit every corner right!

I did manage to skip away with 2 pairs- a sexy Casadei sandal and a playful Missoni wedge. I did see a few Giuseppe's, but they just didn't turn me on. Maybe I'm growing and looking to more responsible ways to spend money and to more adult concepts to tickle my fancy....Naaaaaaahhh!!! It was just an off day Downtown!

No, I'm not a Buga-Boo, but I loooveBeyonce!! So, when my friend K-La told me that Bee's personal nail specialist was coming to her house to do a Day of Beauty, I was all ready to be transformed into a Suga Mama!!

The set up was warm and relaxing-finger foods and wine with old and new friends present jamming to old school dance hall. After about 10 minutes or so, I sat before Lisa Logan. The true definition of a Citygal: she donned a dope haircut, was naturally pretty, dressed in all black and of course..had a hustle! We chatted about many things from how nails became her profession of choice to education in NY to the lack of nail techs of color. Everything flowed so smoothly, you couldn't tell me that I wasn't the megastar who just touched down on my private jet!

The nails are ab fab! When the company decides they want to pay me for advertising, I will post the name (wink), but until then check the photos and know this:these nails, a winning mega millions ticket, a pair of Louboutin boots and a few more crunch/plank combinations??? Jay would have an affair, act like an adult for once!

Well, all my single ladies, married ladies (and fierce guys, owwww!) the Writing's on the Wall because we are Speechless!! We are Crazy in Love with the woman and her work!! My gold metallic fishnet french got me feeling like a Naughty Girl! Now, I would be a Beautiful Liar if I said I'm posting Lisa's digits here but, google her and try to Upgrade U by Summertime!! (guilty! I don't have the latest album, clearly I need new material...)

Thanks Lisa for sharing your talent and Saturday with a few Citygals whose Mamas told them they are superstars, and thank you for treating us like everyoneknows we are!!